Party-line votes fill most borough posts

The borough council named 10 people to positions on various boards, and nine were appointed on a 4-3 vote.

In Hatboro, even appointments to the borough's shade commission can be contested along political party lines.

On Jan. 24, borough council approved 10 names to fill spots on various boards, commissions and authorities.

Only one of the appointees - borough historian Dave Shannon - received all seven council votes.

The other nine, including shade commission nominees Julia Heenan and Brandy McKeever, were appointed by a 4-3 vote - that is, Democrats, 4, Republicans, 3.

Republicans Bill Tompkins, John Zygmont and Vincent LaSorsa said they couldn't vote for the nine because the nominees had not filed financial disclosure statements with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission 10 days prior to their appointment at the meeting.

But borough solicitor Michael Savona said that council could make the appointments, but the appointees could not officially take office until the financial statements were filed.

The Republicans weren't so sure.

Zygmont said that the borough's former solicitor Christen Pionzio told council last year not to vote until the ethics statements were filed. LaSorsa said he would like to see the financial statements prior to voting on the nominees.

Alex Kalnajs, who was appointed treasurer Monday night, was handed the financial statement form at the meeting. He started filling it out as the council session continued.

LaSorsa told Kalnajs that his vote against the new treasurer was solely because of the financial disclosure question.

"This is nothing against you," LaSorsa told Kalnajs.

But that wasn't the case with some of the other appointments.

Tompkins questioned the appropriateness of appointing Scott Johnson to the Hatboro Vacancy Board because Johnson is chairman of the Hatboro Democratic Committee.

Council President Marianne Reymer said Johnson was the only person who applied for the position.

"That still doesn't answer my question," retorted Tompkins.

The naming of David Cooper and Jeffrey Preston to the Hatboro Borough Authority was also decried by the Republican council members.

Sandra Zygmont, the wife of Republican Councilman John Zygmont, was not reappointed to the authority. She has been an outspoken critic of the Democrats on council.

Tompkins said not reappointing Zygmont to the council was "petty." LaSorsa said it was "retribution" because of Zygmont's politics.